Intake seal for tank vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

An adapter, mounted on the cylindrical sidewall of the vacuum cleaner tank, provides a receptacle for a rigid connector on which a flexible vacuum hose is sealingly mounted. The leading edge of the connector insert is beveled. A corresponding beveled surface is formed on the inner wall of the receptacle to engage and seal with the beveled leading edge of the connector to form a continuous, peripheral seal immediately adjacent to the wall of the tank so that when the vacuum motor is turned on, a positive force is generated to increase the effectiveness of the seal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners. More particularly, itrelates to a seal in the intake assembly of a vacuum cleaner more widelyused in industrial and commercial applications or for shop clean-up, asdistinguished from domestic use. In such vacuum cleaners, there is adesire to a accumulate a larger amount of debris before the vacuumcleaner has to be emptied, and such vacuum cleaners therefore have afairly large reservoir for storing debris. Typically, such reservoirsare in the form of a cylindrical drum or tank and have the vacuum motormounted to a lid which is sealed to the top of the tank. The proximateend of the hose is connected to the drum by means of the intakeassembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tank vacuum cleaners for commercial or industrial use normally have afairly large electric motor drawing air to generate the vacuum. Themotor may be 1.5 to 2.0 HP, and capable of generating a substantialvacuum. Any leak in the intake assembly between the hose and the tankcreates inefficiency and reduces the vacuum at the floor tool, therebyreducing the collection efficiency of the vacuum cleaner. Even where aseal is effected in the intake assembly, the seal has not always beenproperly located. For example, a seal which is formed upstream of thelocation of the trigger latch which releases the hose connector willpermit leakage through the latch. Any such leakage not only reduces theefficiency of the vacuum cleaner, but it also creates a perception inthe mind of the user of an inefficient, leaky and ineffective machine.Therefore, the prevention of leaks at the intake assembly is consideredboth a functional or use advantage and a sales feature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention creates a continuous, effective, peripheral sealbetween the intake adapter mounted to the vacuum tank and the hoseconnector. The adapter forms a receptacle in the form of a collar whichtelescopically receives the hose connector, and the leading edge of theconnector is formed into a beveled surface having a frustoconical shapewhich is inclined radially inwardly of the intake and away from thedirection of insertion. In other words, the apex of the cone would be onthe axis of the connector and inwardly of its leading edge.

A corresponding beveled surface is formed on the adapter immediatelyadjacent the exterior surface of the cylindrical vertical wall of thetank. Thus, when a vacuum is generated within the tank by turning themotor on, that vacuum is communicated to the interior of the connectorand to the hose itself. Atmospheric pressure thus forces the hose andthe connector inwardly of the adapter and provides a positive forceensuring complete, sealing engagement of the mating, beveled surfacesrespectively on the connector and the adapter.

Thus, the present invention forms a complete seal inwardly of thetrigger latch or any other breach in the adapter without mechanicalcamming or screw forces to effect the seal, and does so undercircumstances which increase the sealing force during use (that is, whenthe vacuum motor is turned on). Moreover, the inventive seal is formedin a manner which does not employ additional components such as O-ringswhich would increase the cost of materials, the cost of assembly andthus the cost to the end user.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto persons skilled in the art from the following description of apreferred embodiment of the invention accompanied by the attacheddrawing wherein identical reference numerals will identify similarelements in the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a tank vacuum cleanerincorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the intake assembly of thevacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, taken parallel to the axis of the adapter andshowing the connector and adapter in exploded relation a they would bejust prior to assembly; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional close-up fragmentary view, takenparallel to the axis of the adapter and intake assembly and showing theimproved seal and its location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates atank vacuum cleaner of a type widely used in industrial and commercialapplications. The vacuum cleaner 10 includes a chassis 11 having a pairof caster wheels 12 and a pair of larger rear wheels 13 for facility inmoving it about. It also includes a tank 15 having a bottom, a generallycylindrical upright side wall 16, and a lid 17. An electric motor 18 ismounted to the lid 17 and draws air from the interior of the tank 15 andexhausts clean, filtered air into the atmosphere. Thus, the refuse iscollected within the tank 15.

A handle 20 is connected to the chassis 11 so that the vacuum cleanermay be moved more readily like a wheeled dolly.

The vacuum cleaner 10 is provided with a hose 24, the proximal end ofthe hose 24 being connected to the tank 15 by means of an adapter andintake assembly generally designated 25. The distal end of the hose maybe provided with a conventional pick-up or ground cleaning tool, notshown. As is well-known, the electric motor 18 generates a vacuum withinthe tank 15, and that vacuum is communicated through the hose 24 whichacts as a flexible conduit, to the pick-up or cleaning tool forsuctioning air and debris through the hose and into the reservoirprovided by the tank 15 where the refuse, particles and dust arefiltered out and collected.

Turning now to the adapter and intake assembly 25, as seen in vertical,axial cross-section and in exploded relation in FIG. 2, the intakeassembly 25 includes an adapter generally designated 28 and a connectorgenerally designated 30.

Turning first to the adapter, it includes a radially outwardly extendingflange 31 which conforms to the shape of the outer surface of thecylindrical side wall 16 of the tank 15. That is, in vertical sectionthe flange 31 appears straight, but in horizontal cross-section, itconforms to the curvature of the tank wall 16. The flange 31 is mountedto the wall of the tank by any suitable means, and the flange is sealedagainst the wall to prevent leakage. Immediately outboard (i.e. awayfrom the tank) of the flange 31 is a receptacle generally designated 32and taking the form of a collar or sleeve. The receptacle 32 includes agenerally cylindrical side wall 33 having a slight taper--is, thecross-sectional area of the center of the wall 33 increases slightlywhen proceeding away from the flange 31 (i.e., upstream relative to themovement of air from the hose). A central aperture 34 in the flange 33is aligned with a corresponding aperture in the wall 16 of the tank topermit the passage of air and refuse picked up in the resultingairstream.

At the top of the receptacle 32 there is a finger-actuated toggle member35 rotatably mounted on a pin 36 which may be staked between a pair ofadjacent walls extending axially of the receptacle 32 and above thecylindrical side wall 33, one of which axial walls is seen in FIG. 2 anddesignated 37.

An aperture 39 is formed in an upper intermediate location of thegenerally cylindrical wall 33 through which a latch 40 of the togglemember 35 extends. It is the aperture 39 or its equivalent which hadcreated leaks in prior art intake assemblies.

A sealing surface 42 is located near the inner reach of the cylindricalwall 33 of the receptacle 32, adjacent the flange 31 and preferably asnear to the wall of the tank 16 (schematically illustrated by chain line16A in FIG. 2) as reasonably practicable. The sealing surface 42 isintegrally formed in the adapter 32 and extends from the inner surfaceof wall 33 inwardly and preferably away from the container to which theadapter is mounted. Thus, the sealing surface 42 is beveled in a mannerto receive the connector 30 in a continuous, peripheral sealingengagement as will be made clear presently.

Turning now to the connector 30, it includes an insert generallydesignated 44 and a seat for the hose 24, the seat being generallydesignated by reference numeral 45. The insert 44 defines at theinnermost portion of the connector 30, a cylindrical wall 46 which isdimensioned to be telescopically received in the receptacle 32. Theproximal edge of the insert wall 46 is formed into a beveled surface 47which is constructed and arranged to engage and form a seal with thecorrespondingly beveled sealing surface 42 of the adapter 28. The insert44 also includes a peripheral recess or groove 48 into which the latch40 of the toggle member 35 is received when the insert is assembled tothe adapter 28, as best seen in FIG. 3. This prevents accidentalwithdrawal of the connector from the adapter.

The hose seat 45 of connector 30 includes a cylindrical wall 50, theouter surface of which is slightly tapered to a progressively reduceddiameter to the distal end 51 for receiving the proximal end of the hose24. The hose seat 45 also includes an circumferential wall or skirt 52which is conventionally spaced outwardly of the wall 50 to provide anannular space 53 for receiving the proximal end of the hose 24 and forprotecting it against accidental dislodgment.

When the hose 24 is to be assembled to the connector 30, the connectorand adapter are axially aligned as seen in FIG. 2, and the connector 30is assembled to the adapter 28 by placing the insert 44 of the connector30 telescopically into the receptacle 32 of the adapter 28 until thesealing surface 47 of the connector 30 engages the correspondinglybeveled sealing surface 42 of the adapter. The two sealing surfaces thusform a continuous peripheral seal at a location on the adapter which isimmediately adjacent the wall of the tank and downstream (in thedirection of air flow into the tank 15) of the aperture 39 for thetoggle member 35. The beveled surfaces are frusto-conical in shape withthe apex of the cone located on the axis of the cylindrical walls 33, 46outside the tank. Although this is preferred, the bevel could be facingthe other way (i.e., with the apex inside the tank), but the illustratedembodiment insures proper location of the hose connector and applies anoutward tension to the leading edge of the insert 44 during use.

It will be observed that the latch 40 need not cam the connector 30 intosealing engagement, nor is there any need for a mechanical sealing force(such as a screw force) on the connector other than that which iscreated by atmospheric pressure on the hose 24 and connector 30 whichnormally exists when the motor 18 is turned on to create a partialvacuum in the tank 15. In other words, the force on the connector 30resulting from the pressure differential between atmospheric pressureand the partial vacuum created within the hose 24 and connector 30provides a positive sealing force causing the correspondingly shapedsealing surfaces 42, 47 to form an even tighter seal, the greater thevacuum.

A wide range of materials may be used for the adapter 28 and connectors30, but preferably they are formed of a molded plastic which is rigidafter molding, such as polyethylene or ABS plastic.

Having thus disclosed in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention,persons skilled in the art will be able to modify certain of thestructure which has been illustrated and to substitute equivalentelements for those disclosed while continuing to practice the principleof the invention; and it is, therefore, intended that all suchmodifications and substitutions be covered as they are embraced withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. In a vacuum cleaner having a tank providing a reservoir forcollecting refuse, a motor coupled to said tank for generating a vacuumtherein and a hose having a proximal end coupled to said tank andcommunicating the vacuum in said tank to a distal end for picking updebris and refuse and for routing said debris and refuse to said tank,an improved intake assembly comprising: an adapter mounted on a wall ofsaid tank and including a generally cylindrical wall defining areceptacle having an inlet end and an outlet end, a beveled sealingsurface on the interior of said receptacle immediately adjacent theoutlet end thereof and extending continuously about said inner wall ofsaid receptacle and spaced inwardly thereof said adapter furtherincluding an opening in said wall intermediate said inlet end and saidoutlet end for receiving a .[.toggle.]. latch mounted to said adapterand received in said opening; and a hose connector having a first endproviding a cylindrical seat portion received in said proximal end ofsaid hose for sealing therewith and a second end providing a cylindricalinsert adapted for telescopic insertion into said inlet end of saidreceptacle and defining a leading beveled surface corresponding to andcontinuously sealingly engaging said sealing surface of said receptaclewhen said hose connector is assembled to said adapter, whereby acontinuous circumferential seal is formed downstream of said opening insaid adapter and adjacent the wall of said tank.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein each of said beveled seating surfaces comprises aportion of a frustoconical surface.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 whereinthe apex of said seating surfaces lies on the axis of said receptacleoutboard of said tank.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterizedin that said beveled seating surface of said adapter faces outwardly ofsaid tank and that a force is generated on said hose and said hoseconnector when said vacuum motor is turned on to generate a vacuumwithin said tank and said hose, said force applying a positive seatingforce for sealing said beveled surfaces.